Cannabis is a plant people have grown for thousands of years for fiber, food, medicine, and recreation. Today it’s best known for the compounds it makes, especially THC and CBD.
What’s in the plant
Cannabis produces more than 100 cannabinoids, plus aromatic terpenes. Most are made in tiny resin glands called trichomes, which cover the flower, the part of the plant people usually buy.
Hemp vs. marijuana
Both come from the same species. In the U.S., the legal line is THC content: hemp is cannabis with no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight, and anything above that is generally called marijuana. Hemp is used for fiber, seed, and CBD products. Rules for hemp-derived products are shifting, so check current laws where you live.
How it works in the body
Your body has an endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors involved in things like mood, appetite, and sleep. Cannabinoids interact with it. THC causes the high, while CBD doesn’t. Effects vary from person to person and depend on the dose, the product, and how you take it.
Is it legal?
It depends on where you are. Federal and state laws differ, and they keep changing. Most states with legal adult use require you to be 21 or older and to buy from licensed shops. Always check the rules where you live.
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